Room with a view- Penthouse condo for sale in New Town-Williamsburg VA
When Susan Richardson first walked through the door of her 4th floor New Town condo to find a fabulous vista of Sullivan Square Park, she was immediately smitten.
“I could look straight ahead at the sliding doors to the balcony and have a great view of Sullivan Square,” she said. “I just loved that you could see through the condo to the other side.”
That was 7 years ago, and Susan and her husband, Gordon, both retired, still enjoy that top-floor view from the balcony of their 2 bedroom, 2 bath condominium in New Town’s Bennington building.
“We’ve watched a lot of weddings in the Square,” Susan noted. “And, there have been other activities there like beer tastings and ice skating. It’s fun to watch, and if we want to join in the activities all we have to do is walk out the front door of the building.”
The couple also has enjoyed al fresco meals on the balcony, including a Christmas Eve dinner of Brunswick Stew. Susan, who hails from New England, said the stew has become a family tradition adopted from Virginia.
Open Concept Flexibility. Aside from the great view, the Colonial-inspired condo offered 9-foot ceilings, a bright and airy character, and the open concept layout the Richardsons wanted.
“We really loved the openness of the shared areas,” Susan said, noting that the living and dining rooms are open to each other. The kitchen — which features a glass-top stove, stainless appliances, plenty of granite counter space, and a pantry closet—also has an opening to the common areas that allows the cook to visit with guests.
The bedrooms are separated, with the master suite overlooking Sullivan Square to the right, and the guest bedroom, which has private access to the hallway bathroom, to the left. The guest room includes two generous storage spaces under the eaves, a feature Susan loves. Other draws include a laundry room inside the home, and reserved, covered parking.
Minimum Maintenance and Maximum Convenience. The Richardsons bought the condo to be close to Susan’s mother, Virginia Merrill, who lived in Williamsburg for many years. Since they planned to use their Williamsburg home only when they came for a visit with Mom, they specifically sought the convenience of a condo.
“Here, someone else does the maintenance,” Susan said, noting that one time an issue arose while they were in New England, but it was promptly resolved by the condo maintenance team. “I love knowing that someone else is caring for our building and we don’t have to worry about it. It has been a godsend.”
In fact, convenience is a major selling point for New Town, a 365-acre “New Urbanism” community with virtually any amenity within walking distance.
“We can walk to the movie theatre, clothing shops, Michael’s, many restaurants, Trader Joes, the dry cleaners….It’s just wonderful. You can get to most anything you need without getting in your car,” Susan said.
Walking or jogging the main streets is a favorite pastime for many residents, although there are also separate trails for recreation. Susan feels very safe walking around the neighborhood, even at night.
The community is close to William and Mary, and an easy drive to downtown Williamsburg. “Many students rent here and some of the students’ parents buy here,” Susan pointed out. “There are also a lot of kids in New Town. We have a swim club and a nursery school.”
A Place for Entertaining. The condo has served as a gathering place, both for the couple and for Susan’s mom, who loved to entertain her friends but was slowing down a bit.
“Mom would create the guest list and we would send out invitations,” Susan said. “She would make her favorite, pigs-in-a-blanket, I would make the rest of the meal, and my husband would take care of the drinks. My mom just loved it; she was still able to be the ‘hostess with the mostest.’ It was a wonderful, celebratory use of our home.”
Susan and Gordon have entertained their own friends too. The condo has a good flow for socializing and is large enough to accommodate quite a few guests, many of them friends who live in the building.
“The neighbors here are wonderful,” Susan said. “You meet them on the elevator and strike up a conversation. Sometimes you meet in the common exercise room. Everyone here is so friendly.”
Quiet at the Top. Susan noted that although the building has many residents, her spacious unit on the top floor is very quiet.
“There used to be kids in the unit next door, but we never heard them,” she noted. “I have to say, it has been wonderful living at the top.”
The couple has enjoyed the condo lifestyle, but is now selling the home with the help of John “Mr. Williamsburg” Womeldorf.
“John was the real estate agent who showed us the condo 7 years ago,” Susan said. “He is delightful, very personable and very knowledgeable. It was our good, dumb luck to have met him.”
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Why the stories? Because these aren’t just houses, they’re homes.
Mr. Williamsburg knows that when you’re looking for a new place, you’re searching for more than just four walls plus amenities; you’re looking for that welcoming refuge we call home. That’s why we go beyond the standard “4 bedrooms, 3 baths on large lot” statistics, to share how others have lived in this house, to reveal the home’s unique personality, to help you decide whether this is a place where your family could thrive.
Likewise, we realize that you’re seeking not simply a development within a particular zip code, but also an opportunity to become part of a community. That’s why we share our sellers’ experiences as members of that neighborhood.
We trust these stories will assist you in finding your way home.
Want to tell your home’s story? Contact John “Mr. Williamsburg” Womeldorf at (757) 254-8136 or [email protected] and we’ll get you started.